By Admin
Federal and Delta State Governments have committed over a billion naira for the sponsorship of two hundred and fifty intending pilgrims from Delta to the Kingdom of Jordan and Israel.
Chairman of the Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Senior Apostle Sylvanus Okorote said in Asaba during orientation for the intending pilgrims, that the financial requirement for each pilgrim to embark on holy pilgrimage to Jordan and Israel is over five million naira.
According to him, Delta State Government is sponsoring each of the two hundred and fifty intending pilgrims to Jordan and Israel with three million naira as well as payment of seven hundred and fifty thousand naira as travelling allowance while the Federal Government is subsidizing with two million naira for each pilgrim.
He urged the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and the country, and refrain from acts capable of denting the nation’s image.
The Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board Chairman said the holy pilgrimage offered opportunity for those sponsored to pray for themselves, their families, the state and the country.
At the ceremony, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Commissioner for Bureau for Special Duties, Mr Etacherure Ejiro who described holy pilgrimage as a once in a lifetime opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, to experience holy sites, admonished the intending pilgrims to approach the exercise with reverence.
While commending the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and the Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board for their tireless efforts in organizing the pilgrimage, Governor Oborevwori , Governor Oborevwori warned against abscondment by pilgrims.
”I think it is important to sound a note of warning that there would be security personnel in our midst to stop any attempt by pilgrims to abscond. So, please, don’t even attempt what you can not finish. The Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has put together a team of operational staff to ensure a hitch free pilgrimage ”, stated Governor Oborevwori.
In a remark, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Delta State, Reverend Lucky Osagbaikhoe was full of gratitude to the Delta State Government and the Federal Government for committing huge sum of money for the sponsorship of pilgrims from the state to holy lands of Jordan and Israel, urging them to make good use of the opportunity to pray for God’s intervention in the prevailing economic and security challenges confronting the country.
